If you were a Brother in the 1980s or ’90s, then you remember some classic Lodge events commemorated by t-shirts. Pete Corson ’91, then a cartoonist for The Daily Tar Heel, produced several of these shirts, some which are featured here. He has continued with a career in journalism.
The Cave Party was an opportunity each winter for the outgoing #1 to breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate a year of leadership by hosting Brothers and friends. Still residing in the Cave after handing responsibilities over to the new #1, the previous #1 was enjoying a much simpler spring semester. Corson produced the blue shirt with the woolly mammoth and the black shirt with the bat insignia for Cave Parties in the early 1990s.
Trader Vic’s was a favorite annual event to end the spring semester with its Polynesian theme! Where did the name come from? Trader Vic’s is a restaurant and tiki bar chain headquartered in Martinez, California. Victor Jules Bergeron, Jr. founded the chain of Polynesian-themed restaurants that bore his nickname, “Trader Vic.” He was one of two people who claimed to have invented the drink the Mai Tai. The event continues today – but it is known as LDOC (the UNC registrar’s term for Last Day of Classes) or the Moat Party. Corson drew the cartoon for the yellow shirt with the Easter Island depiction in the early 1990s.
Coffeehouse was a chance both in the fall and in the spring for Brothers to gather in the dining room on a Friday night for performances and skits in which they made fun of themselves, each other, and college life (think Saturday Night Live). Favorite skits like Kung Fu Theater recurred from one semester to the next. Does anyone know who produced the white shirt with the coffee cup and halo?
